The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-13
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"How dare you steal birds nest" said
Brownie Indignantly go and put it back
where you got it. Take away your dirty
handIn
Rips eyes glowed with rage. He dashed
the nest to the ground. 'Never you mind,
Miss he said. ''You think you are so very
fine, but you're nothing but a girl anyhow.
You'll get your come-up-ance. You'll get
your hair pulled when you won't know who
does it. Some feller1l pounce out on you in
the dark and scare you into fits, and you'll
never find out who it is When you've got
your best clothes on, somebody II splash your
white dress all over. "Boysll yell out. 'snub
nose! snub noser at you when you come to
town. Somebody'n unpin your pink ribbon
sash unbeknownst, and pitch it into a mud
puddle. And it'll be this same feller, every
time. You mind thatn
sect outln said Brownie, angrily.
eyes, an the same feller's got bumblebee
in Jail III hollyhock, and he'll let it loose in
your hair this minute. Wow-w-w.'
He gave big soprano screech to mimic a
girl. At the same time he unprisoEeda a great
fat bumblebee against Brownies black, curly
hair. She screamed in earnest. A laugh,
wild Indian warwhoop, twinkling of bare
heels in a double somersault and the boy
vanished He was as good as his word.
From that day he tormented Brownie till he
made life burden to her at times.
Every manner of deviltry that head of boy
could devise was set going by Rip, aided and
abetted by Tom and Percy Carstone. Tom
was great numbering boy with strong but
slow brain, which was behind his size and his
years. He knew better than to follow the
lead of Rip, nevertheless he did so Because
we know leaders to be reckless and bad, there
fora x-e follow them soYuetirnes
Petty thefts began to be noted about Lin
wood to an extent never before known. Who
committed them was mystery.
@Sam, what becomes of all the eggs!" said
Brownie We can't get an egg for a Gus
tard, any more"
Miss Brownie said Sam, solemnly, .its
them boys. There's pickiris and stealins
agoin' on about yer dats disgrace to Q
| spectacle neighborhood. It's things to eat
that's most gin'ally always stole- A man wild
. head fur figgers would know from dat az
| fac 'twus boys done it,p said Sam with a
| modest pride. Them derned boys
Il wonder where the boys are said Mrs.
| Carstone one evening @You ought to look
after them better, Shirley, don't know what
| you are about evenings. Tom and Percy are
| out every night. There's Pet gone, too. We
| called him Pet when he was little, because be
was so delicate and pretty, and looked like q
| girl He was that cowardly that he would
scream with fright if your father 50 much as
| set him up on a gate post. 1t seems as if be
| always would be afraid Of the dark. l think
he's getting over it lately
Shirley might have told her mother what
| she was about evenings But she did not
II know where the boys go nights, mann
MAJ said little s-year-od Harry. sfhey'r
i in Robbers Cave
aWhat.- said Shirley.
sThey are in Robbers Cave, that's wher,
they are Shirley They won't tell me, but
followed them one night glimpsed at them
through the curtain I'm not afraid Of thl
dark
Harry was brave little man, and belliger
cnt
Il sThey steal corn, and eggs, and chickens.
and roast them in the ashes, and eat them
continued the child The smoke gets int
their eyes, and they get cold and muddy, bu
they say the grub tastes ever 50 much beffel
than the cooking at home. They can it grub
n ~Wheres Robbers Csver
II Get the lantern, Shirley, and III take yoJ
, there. The enemy II surprise EN- Rip ]
, the robber chief, though he's the httlesf
: They've al learned to smoke. and they'v go
| whisky there- They've lots Of other things
too, and WHEN they get enough, theyfe golnl
, 10 run away, and Rips going 70 sel them m
] they're going to start srobba bahd m .
west Rip pyR -.
| EWhy Ad'ntyen tel He this pefors, Harry
= only beard aem talh iaat night loun
thefF cave long 50 lts aug U tne enas1s 49,
/ and covered With leaves and weeds and hmn
q treee Nobody would ever know tvs
Robbsrs Cave. They crawl il undaEfound
- 1xS, = IL v.,rl oxer tie hole. Theysy